Interchangeable cushion-heel



C, H. McLEAN.

INTERCHANGEABLE CUSHION HEEL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1919.

1,35%,4 99. Patented Oct. 5,1920.

Jig-75:1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

cHAnnns I-IJMQLEAN, or nosroiv, MASSACHUSETTS.

iNTnnonANeEABLn" CUSHION-HEEL.

Application filed December 1, 1919. Serial No. 341,599.

To all. whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MOLEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Cushion-Heels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an interchangeable heel for footwear, and has for its object to provide a device of this character capable of being readily removed from the heel when necessary.

.Another object is to provide a device of this character including a resilient member which not only holds the detachable heel section in engagement with the heel but assists the heel in its cushioning operation. Another object is to provide'a device of this character including a novel latch mechanism which prevents accidental disengagement of the heel section'from the heel. With the above and other objects in'view the invention consists in the improved combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more particularly described and fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inlwhi ch: i I Y Figure 1 is a perspective View of the heel proper and the interchangeable cushion heel section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4E shows an implement which is used to move the latch.

Referring to the drawings, 5' indicates a plate which is furcated as at 6, longitudinally thereof, to provide parallel arms 7 and 8. The free end portions of said arms are slightly skewed at the forward portion of their inner edges 9 toward each other, so as to facilitate the application of a cushion heel section to the heel proper. A plurality of brads, screws or like fastening means 10 extend through the plate 5 for securingthe plate to the heel 11. The heads of the fastening means 10 are disposed in countersunk openings in the plate 5, so as to provide a smooth surface for the attaching and detaching operation of the cushion heel section.

A channel 12 is formedin the heel 11 for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 5, 1920.

inafter described.

Pivoted as at 13 to the free end of the arm 7 is a latch member 14 intended to swing inwardly and engage the catch 15 extending from the surface of the plate 5 between the heel and the plate. The latch member 14 in its locking position extends transversely of the plate across the furcations 6. A cushioning heel section 16, preferably of rubber, is provided and includes means for securing it to the plate 5,'said means comprising a plate 17 intended to be countersunk in'the surface of the heel section 16 so that a ridge 18 extends around the plate.

A plurality of headed lugs 19 extend through the intermediate portion of the plate 17 in spaced relation to each other, and are connected to the plate, the headed portion of said lugs projecting above the plate in -a position to permit them to readilyengagethe plate 5. A plurality of rivets or like fastening means 20 are positionedin the heel section 16, and pass through the plate 17 to secure it to the cushioning heel section. In view of this novel securing method, the heel section 16 will wear longer as there are no openings of any-kind in the bottom of the heel. i t

To apply the heel section 16 to the heel proper 11, the lugs '19 are intended to be moved into the'furcation' the heads of the lugs being guided by the inner edges of the arms 7 and 8 so as to draw the inner edges 9 of the arms toward the intermediate portion of the plate 17 the heads of the lugs being disposed in the channel 12 in the heel section 11. The latch member 1 1 is then moved inwardly by means of a small wire the reception of connection means to be hereimplement 21 provided for this purpose and engaged with the catch 15. By this means it is impossible for the lugs to accidentally leave the furcation, as the rear end of said furcation is closed. In view of the ridge 18 all of the connecting parts of the heel are concealed. The ridge, also prevents these parts from interfering with the cushioning operation of the heel section 16. In addition to this, the skewed portion of the plate 5 facilitates the attaching operation of the section 16 and permits the lugs 19 to be firmly drawn into engagement with the heel section 11 so as to firmly engage the heel section 16 therewith.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen L permits the user, to obtain a firm grip on ice,

that this invention provides a simple form of detachable heel capable of being readily applied and removed when desired. Then the heels become worn on'one side they may i be readily changed to the opposite heel sec-V tion by the use of this device. Furthermore,

thereare no openings of any kind in the bottom of the cushioning heel section to'col-' lect dirt, ice 'or like foreign matter and because of this, the cushioning heel section wet pavements and floors, to prevent slipingn ' Whatis claimed is 1. An interchangeable heel for footwear,

comprising a furcated plate carried by the heel, a-.'heel section having aplate, and a plurality of fixed headed lugs projecting from: said plate and" arranged to be disposedi-nthe furcation of the first mentioned plate; r

j ,2: Any interchangeable; heel for footwear, comprising a furcated plate carried. by the heel, a heel section having a plate countersunk therein, and a plurality-of fixed headed lugs projecting from. said plate and arranged to detachably engage the arms of the 'furcated plate.

' An interchangeable heel for footwear, comprising a fu-rcated plate carriedby the heel, a heel section having aplatecount'en "sunk -therein,-a plurality of headed lugs-pro jecting. from said .plate. and arranged to detachably engage the arms of the furcated' plate, and a latch'carried-by said furcated pl at'e fto close, saidxfurcation after the lugs V are positioned there-in.-

4.-- A n interchangeable heel -for footwear,

comprising a furcated plate carried by the heel,the arms of saidv 'furcations being slightly-skewed towardeach otherla heel "section i-ncludinga plate,.and a plurality of engagement with the heel.

permanently 'fixed headed'lugs projecting from the surface of the second mentioned plate in spaced relation to each other and to the edges of said plate, said plate being arranged to detachably engage. the furc'ated plate through'the medium of the headed plate into the furcation-thereof whereby the 7 heel section is drawn into firm engagement with the heel.

6. An interchangeable heel for footwear, comprising a furcated plate secured to the lower surface of the heel, the arms of said furcations being slightly skewed at their inner'edges toward each other, a heel section having-a recess in its upper surface, a plate permanentlysecured in said recess, said plate coinciding with the furcated plate of the heel; and a plurality of fixed headed lugs projecting from the second mentioned plate in spaced relation to each other and to theedges of said plate, the heads of said lugsbeing disposed flush with the upper surface of the heel section,to permit the furcated plate to guide the heel section into In testimony; whereof signature; 7

' MCLEAN.

'I hereunto afiix my 

